Rail support for overhead conveyors

ABSTRACT

A rail support for overhead conveyors in the form of a one piece metal stamping derived from a flat metal blank having an edge configuration which allows the blank to be progressively bent to provide a bifurcated clamping portion and a rail seat portion.

United States Patent lnventors George E. Gonsalves;

Felice Dosso, both of 623 Bergen Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11238 Appl. No. 858,836

Filed Sept. 17, 1969 Patented Aug. 24, 1971 RAIL SUPPORT FOR OVERHEAD CONVEYORS 11 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

11.5. C1 248/300, 16/94 R, 104/111, 104/1 15,248/317 Int. Cl E01b 25/22 Field of Search 248/300, 317, 301, 58,62, 221, 230; 16/94 R; 104/115, 111, 93

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 826,605 7/1906 Pflum et a1 104/111 1,042,881 10/1912 Bowen 248/317 X 2,706,306 4/1955 Sheetz 248/317 X Primary ExaminerJ. Franklin Foss Attorney-Philip G. Hilbert ABSTRACT: A rail support for overhead conveyors in the form of a one piece metal stamping derived from a flat metal blank having an edge configuration which allows the blank to be progressively bent to provide a bifurcated clamping portion and a rail seat portion.

PATENIED Aus24|9n 33501. 348

SHEET 1 OF 3 zo 'li 2o 'F|G.3 FIG. 3A

INVENTORS George E. fionsalves BY Fellce Dosso ATTORNEY PATENIED M24197:

330L348 snananfa mmm FIG.4A

RAIL SUPPORT FOR OVERHEAD CONVEYORS Background of the invention Rail support members for overhead conveyors are of generally C shape including a suspending portion at one end thereof and a rail seating portion at the other end thereof. Such known rail support members are formed as malleable metal castings.

The known rail support members in the form of castings have a number of disadvantages including excessive weight; nonuniform quality; elaborate and expensive manufacturing techniques including time consuming annealing operations; requiring further fabricating operations at the time of installation, including drilling steps under precision conditions to properly locate the drilled holes; requiring expensive finishing operations including cadmium plating; and a nonuniform useful life, requiring excessive replacement.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an improved rail support member for overhead conveyors, which is formed as metal stampings of uniform quality and of reduced weight compared to that of cast members.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved rail support member of the character described, which is derived from a flat metal blank of suitable gauge and stamped to provide a critical edge configuration which permits the application of successive bending operations to convert the blank to its finished three dimensional article form.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved rail support member of the character described which essentially has a U-shaped cross section, which provides high tensile and compressive strengths; and which is economical to manufacture and will accept economical finishes such as a zinc platrng.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a rail support member of the character described, which may be formed from metal blanks of a gauge selected to suit the stresses and strains to which the finished support will be subjected to; and which may be produced by the use of suitable dies coordinated with the blank configuration at relatively high production rates, resulting in production economies.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing the rail support member of the instant invention in association with suspension means and a supported rail member;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a metal blank for conversion into the rail support member;

FIG. 3 is a view of the blank after an initial forming operation;

FIG. 3A is a side view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a further stage in the forming of the blank;

FIG. 4A is a sectional view taken on the line 4A-4A of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view showing still a further stage in the forming of the blank; and

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view thereof.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring in detail to the drawing, and particularly to FIG. 1, the rail support for overhead conveyors embodying the invention is generally indicated at 10. Such a support is of a C shape including an intermediate portion 11 with a bifurcated clamping portion 12 projecting from one end thereof and a rail mounting seat portion 13 projecting from the other end thereof.

In using support 10, the same is suspended from a ceiling or the like, not shown; on a vertical tubular member 14 by way of clamping portion 12. The usual horizontal tubular rail 15 is mounted on seat portion 13. It is understood that supports 10 are positioned along the path traversed by tubular rail 15, which consists of successive sections suitably connected to each other and to seat portion 13 of said supports 10.

The support 10 is a metal stamping derived from a fiat blank 16 of steel or the like, having a gauge ranging from 0.060inches to 0.175inches and preferably 0.140inches, FIG. 2. The blank 16 is an elongated member including a clamp forming portion 17 at end thereof; the portions 17 and 18 being connected by an intermediate portion 19.

Having in mind that blank 16 is to be converted into the finished support 10, by successive bending and other metal working operations; blank 16 has a critical peripheral edge configuration wherein the intermediate portion 19 has parallel edge portions 20 intermediate the ends thereof and tapering edge portions 21; 21A extending from the opposite ends of intermediate edge portions 20.

The clamp forming portion 17 is connected to edge portions 21 by way of concave arcuate edge portions 22 and rail seat forming portion 18 is connected to edge portions 21A by way of arcuate edge portions 23.

The clamp forming portion 17 is defined by a pair of bifurcated strap portions 24 having outer, parallel edges 25 and inner, parallel edge portions 26. The strap portions 24 terminate in semicircular end edges 27 which interconnect edge 25 with the outer end edge portion 26A of edge 26; the spacing between edge portions 26A of edge 26; the spacing between the edge portions 26A being somewhat less than the spacing between edge portions 26. The outer ends of strap portions 24 are formed with square bolt passing openings 29. The inner edges 26 are interconnected at their inner ends by an arcuate edge 28 located in substantial alignment with the juncture of edges 22, 25.

The rail seat forming portion 18 is defined by a T head portion 30 symmetrically related to intermediate portion 19. Portion 30 includes side edges 31 interconnected by a somewhat curved top edge 32 which is interrupted at its midpoint by an arcuate edge portion 33 of a radius different from that of top edge 32. Further, portion 30 includes downwardly inclined bottom edge portions 34 which connect side edges 31 with arcuate corner portions 23. Portion 30 is formed with openings 35 adjacent side edges 31, for the purpose later appearing.

The blank 16 shown in FIG. 2 is converted to the rail support 10 of FIG. 1, in a series of bending operations, indicated progressively in FIGS. 3-7. Thus, blank 16 is bent through the use of suitable dies, to convert strap forming portions 24 to semicircular form. To this end portions 24 are bent along transversely disposed, parallel lines 36, 37 to form the arcuate portions 38 therebetween; bend line 36 being located at the juncture of edges 22, 25; while bend line 37 is located above openings 29 at the juncture of edges 26, 26A, see FIG. 3.

The thus formed blank is then further subjected to the action of selected bending dies to convert the intermediate portion 19 to a U-shaped cross section indicated at 40 bringing lateral portions 41 extending from the longitudinal bend line 42, into opposed relation. Such bending operation further brings the arcuate strap portions 38 into opposed relation.

However, the bending of intermediate portion 19 to U shape cross section 40, leaves rail support portion 18 unaffected; the groove 43 thus formed being of uniform depth along the extent of intermediate edge portions 20 and of progressively decreasing depth along the extent of edge portions 21A, the outer ends of said edges 21A being outwardly flared as at 44 and the outer end of bend 42 is faired into T head portion 30.

The formed blank is further subjected to selected bending dies to dispose clamp forming portion 17 and rail seat portion 18 in angular relation to intermediate portion 16. Thus, portion 17 is bent at arcuate edges 22 to bring the same into an angular relation somewhat less than a right angle, in respect to portion 16; while portion 18 is bent at edges 21A to locate the same at an angle approaching 90 relative to intermediate portion 16.

Thereafter portions l7, 18 are progressively bent further toward each other, until in their final positions, said portions are substantially at right angles to intermediate portion 16, FIG. l.-Further, the clamping portion 39 is now in vertical alignment with seat portion 18; portion 30 having been bent to form a transversely curved seat 45. The medical curve edge portion 33 now forms the projected end edge of the transversely curved end 46 of curved portion 47 of U shaped portion 40.

The openings 35 in seat portion 18 allow for the passage of self tapping screws 50 for engagement with rail 15 to fix the same to said support 10.

The member 10, in its now finished form is suspended from a vertical pipe 14 by way of strap portions 38 and a carriage bolt and nut 48 passing through aligned openings 29 in said strap forming portions 24.

The completed support may be suitably finished as by zinc plating the same.

What we claim is:

l. A rail support for overhead conveyors comprising a generally C-shaped member, said member comprising an intermediate portion of U-shaped cross section with the opposed leg portion thereof in closely spaced relation, said intermediate portion including portions extending from the opposite ends thereof and disposed substantially at right angles thereto, one of said end portions including a bifurcated clamping portion extending forwardly thereof, the other of said end portions having an integral rail seat portion extending transversely thereof, the opposite ends of said rail seat portion projecting beyond the side edges of the adjacent portions of the intermediate portion.

2. A rail support as in claim 1 wherein said seat portion is of transverse cross section and formed with openings at the opposite ends thereof in longitudinal alignment.

3. A rail support as in claim 1 wherein said clamping portion comprises a pair of opposed arcuate strap portions, the outer ends of said strap portions being formed with aligned openings.

4. A rail support as in claim 1 wherein the depth of the U- shapud cross section of said intermediate portion progressively decreases toward the juncture thereof with the end portions thereof.

5. A rail support as in claim 1 wherein the depth of the U- shaped cross section of said first mentioned end portion progressively increases toward the juncture thereof with said bifurcated clamping portion.

6. A rail support as in claim 2 wherein the groove formed by the U-shaped cross section of the other of said end portions communicates at its outer end with the arcuate portion of said seat portion.

7. A metal blank for forming a rail support comprising a flat elongated intermediate portion, a flat rail seat forming portion integral with one end of said intermediate portion and having oppositely projecting ends, a flat bifurcated clamp forming portion integral with the other end thereof, said intermediate portion having end portions of tapered transverse dimension at the juncture thereof with said rail seat forming end clamp forming portions.

8. A blank as in claim 7 wherein said rail seat forming portion comprises a pair of parallel end edges, a concave top edge connecting said end edges, a pair of bottom edge portions extending from said end edges toward each other and being substantially parallel to opposed outer end portions of said top edge.

9. A blank as in claim 8 wherein said clamp forming portion comprises a pair of laterally spaced strap portions extending longitudinally from said other end of the intermediate portion, said strap portion having openings, therein said other end of the intermediate portion having concave edge portions at the juncture thereof with the outer edges of said strap ortions.

10. A blank as in claim 9 wherein said blank is gent along a medial longitudinal line in said intermediate portion to provide said intermediate portion with a U-shaped cross section and disposing said strap portions in opposed relation to each other.

11. A blank as in claim 10 wherein said blank is bent at the end portions of reduced dimension to bring said seat forming and clamp forming portions toward each other. 

1. A rail support for overhead conveyors comprising a generally C-shaped member, said member comprising an intermediate portion of U-shaped cross section with the opposed leg portion thereof in closely spaced relation, said intermediate portion including portions extending from the opposite ends thereof and disposed substantially at right angles thereto, one of said end portions including a bifurcated clamping portion extending forwardly thereof, the other of said end portions having an integral rail seat portion extending transversely thereof, the opposite ends of said rail seat portion projecting beyond the side edges of the adjacent portions of the intermediate portion.
 2. A rail support as in claim 1 wherein said seat portion is of transverse cross section and formed with openings at the opposite ends thereof in longitudinal alignment.
 3. A rail support as in claim 1 wherein said clamping portion comprises a pair of opposed arcuate strap portions, the outer ends of said strap portions being formed with aligned openings.
 4. A rail support as in claim 1 wherein the depth of the U-shaped cross section of said intermediate portion progressively decreases toward the juncture thereof with the end portions thereof.
 5. A rail support as in claim 1 wherein the depth of the U-shaped cross section of said first mentioned end portion progressively increases toward the juncture thereof with said bifurcated clamping portion.
 6. A rail support as in claim 2 wherein the groove formed by the U-shaped cross section of the other of said end portions communicates at its outer end with the arcuate portion of said seat portion.
 7. A metal blank for forming a rail support comprising a flat elongated intermediate portion, a flat rail seat forming portion integral with one end of said intermediate portion and having oppositely projecting ends, a flat bifurcated clamp forming portion integral with the other end thereof, said intermediate portion having end portions of tapered transverse dimension at the juncture thereof with said rail seat forming end clamp forming portions.
 8. A blank as in claim 7 wherein said rail seat forming portion comprises a pair of parallel end edges, a concave top edge connecting said end edges, a pair of bottom edge portions extending from said end edges toward each other and being substantially parallel to opposed outeR end portions of said top edge.
 9. A blank as in claim 8 wherein said clamp forming portion comprises a pair of laterally spaced strap portions extending longitudinally from said other end of the intermediate portion, said strap portion having openings, therein said other end of the intermediate portion having concave edge portions at the juncture thereof with the outer edges of said strap portions.
 10. A blank as in claim 9 wherein said blank is bent along a medial longitudinal line in said intermediate portion to provide said intermediate portion with a U-shaped cross section and disposing said strap portions in opposed relation to each other.
 11. A blank as in claim 10 wherein said blank is bent at the end portions of reduced dimension to bring said seat forming and clamp forming portions toward each other. 